First Train on the Tokaido Line

The Tokaido Main Line's initial section opened on July 23, 1878, with British-built locomotives hauling trains between Shimbashi in Tokyo and Yokohama. This 29 km route was Japan's first railway, built under the Meiji Restoration to modernize the nation. Engineer Edmund Morel oversaw construction amid challenges like mountainous terrain. It symbolized Japan's rapid industrialization, facilitating trade and travel, and laid the foundation for the extensive Shinkansen network. The event connected ports to the capital, boosting economic growth and cultural exchange.